Abyssinian

Rumblestiltskin

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 22, 2026
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Location
Herts
Good morning

Is Duncan likely to have abyssinian in him? Do they tend to be on the larger side compared to american?

He hasnt dropped any more weight on daily weighing since good Friday. Bssed on my inexperienced judgement of heft I think he feels about right.

Thank you
 

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I forgot to ask do i need to brush him and if so can you please show me the type of brush or comb that is needed? Thanks
 
I'm no expert one will answer soon but just wanted to say how lovely he is. I have guinea pigs who are around that weight too 💙
 
He's lovely, has pretty colouring.

I'm no expert either, but my guineas with similar fur all did their own grooming. I occasionally brushed oldies who couldn't reach all their spots with an old soft-bristle toothbrush.
 
Hi and welcome

Duncan is a unique mix of breeds but it is a bit difficult to say exactly what has gone into him. It may be part aby but I am not quite sure. The bum end doesn't seem to show the typical pattern of rosettes and the headform also doesn't have the classic aby triangle; it's more like an American/short-hair smooth. But what it is not quite clear. The mix may be going back several generations and the various actual breed markers have been rather lost.
Enjoy him as one of those special piggies where there isn't a second one like him. He is a particularly handsome unique gent. ❤️

You want a soft small dog pet brush to give him a brush occasionally, especially during Spring and Autumn, when he is more likely to shed.

Make sure that check his boar bits weekly during the course of his regular once weekly weigh-in and health check. An actual clean can range from weekly to monthly, depending on age and how quickly he gets mucky.
You can take pictures of how his various features and body parts look and keep them as a reference if there are changes you are not sure about.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Weight (Underweight & Overweight) - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal or not during the weekly check
Early Signs Of Illness
 
Hi and welcome

Duncan is a unique mix of breeds but it is a bit difficult to say exactly what has gone into him. It may be part aby but I am not quite sure. The bum end doesn't seem to show the typical pattern of rosettes and the headform also doesn't have the classic aby triangle; it's more like an American/short-hair smooth. But what it is not quite clear. The mix may be going back several generations and the various actual breed markers have been rather lost.
Enjoy him as one of those special piggies where there isn't a second one like him. He is a particularly handsome unique gent. ❤️

You want a soft small dog pet brush to give him a brush occasionally, especially during Spring and Autumn, when he is more likely to shed.

Make sure that check his boar bits weekly during the course of his regular once weekly weigh-in and health check. An actual clean can range from weekly to monthly, depending on age and how quickly he gets mucky.
You can take pictures of how his various features and body parts look and keep them as a reference if there are changes you are not sure about.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Weight (Underweight & Overweight) - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal or not during the weekly check
Early Signs Of Illness
Thank you for your detailed response. I think Duncan might be unique in temprament too 🤣

Duncan has lost 100g in 3 weeks so I put him on daily weigh since Good Friday until I saw the vet again today.(weight was stable). But she said he was overweight when she first saw him 3 weeks ago. Shes happy with him and feels he could lose another 100g ish with no concerns about health as he still has some fat around his ribs. Hes a very greedy pig and of course I dont know what he was being fed in his previous home but could have included high sugar treats. Ive discovered his cage mate Daphne wont touch any high sugar veg so its also possible he was getting double helpings. They went to the vet today for their second selamectin treatment, as they had a significant mite infestation on rehome with me.

She checked his boar bits 3 weeks ago and he had crusty smelly vile smegma build up around his willy so I was given a baptism of fire on checking boar bits. Otherwise and without the information you provided I would not have known - its clear his previous owners didnt!

I may have a soft dog brush in the house already Ill have a look.

Thanks again 🙂
 
Thank you for your detailed response. I think Duncan might be unique in temprament too 🤣

Duncan has lost 100g in 3 weeks so I put him on daily weigh since Good Friday until I saw the vet again today.(weight was stable). But she said he was overweight when she first saw him 3 weeks ago. Shes happy with him and feels he could lose another 100g ish with no concerns about health as he still has some fat around his ribs. Hes a very greedy pig and of course I dont know what he was being fed in his previous home but could have included high sugar treats. Ive discovered his cage mate Daphne wont touch any high sugar veg so its also possible he was getting double helpings. They went to the vet today for their second selamectin treatment, as they had a significant mite infestation on rehome with me.

She checked his boar bits 3 weeks ago and he had crusty smelly vile smegma build up around his willy so I was given a baptism of fire on checking boar bits. Otherwise and without the information you provided I would not have known - its clear his previous owners didnt!

I may have a soft dog brush in the house already Ill have a look.

Thanks again 🙂

Duncan sounds rather overweight. Good that they have found a much better home with you!

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He may have some abyssinian in him, along with some other breeds. I've got an aby cross right now, she does have the rosettes but they aren't symmetrical and some of them are kind of oddly-placed half-rosettes. A lot of guinea pigs are a mix of breeds. I have never had to do any particular grooming on my abyssinians, only on long-haired pigs. Hope this helps!
 
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